TIEFLAND
Eugen d´Albert1864 - 1932
Opera with a prelude and two acts. Text by Rudolf Lothar (acutally Rudolf Spitzer),
after the play Terra baixa by Angel Guimerà. First performance of 1st version November 15th 1903, Neues Deutsches Theater PragueFirst performance of 2nd version January 16th 1905, Stadttheater Magdeburg
Sung in German
Duration c. 3hrs. with one interval
Co-production with the Volksoper Wien
For the last time!

About the Piece

As long as Pedro lives high up in the mountains in his simple shack he is completely innocent, unworldly and ignorant of the »tro ...

As long as Pedro lives high up in the mountains in his simple shack he is completely innocent, unworldly and ignorant of the »trouble and strife« that reigns down below. But when he descends into the valley we discover what lies below the surface, in the depths of the human soul: Pedro feels as justified in going for his adversary Sebastiano’s throat as he did when a wolf threatened his sheep in the mountains. His rival’s cries for help are unheard, the man became wolf. Will Pedro and Marta be able to live out their dream of an idyllic life in the mountains as shepherds?Tiefland was Eugen d’Albert’s biggest hit. A German composer with French roots, he was inspired by a Catalanian story and long wanderings in the mountains in the Tyrol and Ticino. His music includes echos of alpine calls, simple shepherd tunes, Spanish dance and dramatic, furious outbursts. The demanding lead roles are sung by new singers in this season’s revival of Anselm Weber’s production.

Synopsis

Pedro, a shepherd, lives in peace in the mountains. He has recently began wishing that he had a wife. His master, Sebastiano, arri ...

Pedro, a shepherd, lives in peace in the mountains. He has recently began wishing that he had a wife. His master, Sebastiano, arrives from the valley and offers him Marta's hand. Thrilled to bits Pedro goes down to the valley to wed. What he could not know was that Sebastiano is planning this wedding only so that he can continue to sexually abuse Marta without raising suspicion. It is hard for Pedro to win Marta's trust. When he has won it he gets into a fight with Sebastiano. Pedro strangles him and the couple flee to the mountains.